State eyes funds for Plymouth Rock Studio

Plymouth Rock Studios has some hurdles to clear before it can land safely on the 350 acres of town-owned land in South Plymouth it intends to buy.

Emily Wilcox

Plymouth Rock Studios has some hurdles to clear before it can land safely on the 350 acres of town-owned land in South Plymouth it intends to buy.

Former Paramount Pictures Studio Group president and Plymouth Rock’s master planning director, Earle Lestz, told selectmen and Planning Board members Tuesday night the project simply won’t happen without the new interchange.

“We’re not going to build the studio without the proper infrastructure,” he said. “We don’t build to sell; we build to operate.”

But millions of dollars needed for a Route 25 interchange and a boatload of other infrastructure improvements may be in the bag. An incentive proposal prepared by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development earmarks $55 million for the interchange and other infrastructure for the project.

“Where it stands right now is that it’s passed through the Senate and it’s now in the House,” Plymouth Rock Studios co-founder David Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve been promised on paper $55 million for the interchange, roads, sewerage and water.”

Selectmen held a joint meeting Tuesday night with the Planning Board to review their wish list for the movie studio project. Lestz and Kirkpatrick, former president of Paramount Pictures for 17 years, sat in the audience while officials rehashed their concerns that the project creates jobs, doesn’t require many town services, won’t seriously impact the town’s rural character and will be a boon to the tax base.

“To me it’s very exciting,” Lestz said. “You will have in Plymouth a world class studio. No one else has done what we will be doing here.”

Kirkpatrick said his group is just as concerned as residents that Bourne Road not become overly congested since stars like Matt Damon and others need to live and drive in the area during filming. Lestz said they are attracted to the relatively low housing costs here, compared to southern California, and that the influx of well-paid moviemakers should raise Plymouth’s property values.

“Overall, the proposal will be very attractive to the town,” Kirkpatrick said. “The interchange is not going to be a barrier.”

Kirkpatrick said Plymouth Rock Studios is also gunning for an additional $48 million from the Office of Business Development for the project.

Plymouth Rock Studios has some hurdles to clear before it can land safely on the 350 acres of town-owned land in South Plymouth it intends to buy.

Former Paramount Pictures Studio Group president and Plymouth Rock’s master planning director, Earle Lestz, told selectmen and Planning Board members Tuesday night the project simply won’t happen without the new interchange.

“We’re not going to build the studio without the proper infrastructure,” he said. “We don’t build to sell; we build to operate.”

But millions of dollars needed for a Route 25 interchange and a boatload of other infrastructure improvements may be in the bag. An incentive proposal prepared by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development earmarks $55 million for the interchange and other infrastructure for the project.

“Where it stands right now is that it’s passed through the Senate and it’s now in the House,” Plymouth Rock Studios co-founder David Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve been promised on paper $55 million for the interchange, roads, sewerage and water.”

Selectmen held a joint meeting Tuesday night with the Planning Board to review their wish list for the movie studio project. Lestz and Kirkpatrick, former president of Paramount Pictures for 17 years, sat in the audience while officials rehashed their concerns that the project creates jobs, doesn’t require many town services, won’t seriously impact the town’s rural character and will be a boon to the tax base.

“To me it’s very exciting,” Lestz said. “You will have in Plymouth a world class studio. No one else has done what we will be doing here.”

Kirkpatrick said his group is just as concerned as residents that Bourne Road not become overly congested since stars like Matt Damon and others need to live and drive in the area during filming. Lestz said they are attracted to the relatively low housing costs here, compared to southern California, and that the influx of well-paid moviemakers should raise Plymouth’s property values.

“Overall, the proposal will be very attractive to the town,” Kirkpatrick said. “The interchange is not going to be a barrier.”

Kirkpatrick said Plymouth Rock Studios is also gunning for an additional $48 million from the Office of Business Development for the project.